Jose Ortiz relocating to Kentucky

Jockey Jose Ortiz, a regular on the New York Racing Association circuit since 2012, plans to relocate to Kentucky starting this spring.

Following the conclusion of the Gulfstream Park winter meet on March 31, Ortiz will ride the meet at Keeneland – save April 6 when he will be at Aqueduct – and then remain in Kentucky to ride the Churchill Downs spring meet. Ortiz plans to ride the summer at Saratoga before returning to Kentucky for the fall.

Ortiz, 30, said he and his wife, Taylor, prefer to raise their three children – ages 6, 5, and 2 – in more of a country setting like Kentucky than in New York. Ortiz said they have purchased property in Shelbyville.

“I’m more into that style and she is too,” Jose Ortiz said. “We both agreed we think it would be better for our family if we go to Kentucky.”

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Ortiz, who will continue to be represented by agent Steve Rushing, will be in Kentucky on Saturday to ride the card at Turfway Park.

Ortiz was the leading rider on the NYRA circuit in 2016, 2020, and 2021 and is a three-time leading rider at Saratoga. He won the 2017 Eclipse Award as North America’s outstanding rider.

Ortiz entered the last two weeks of the Gulfstream Park winter meet third in wins with 83. According to Equibase, Ortiz has 2,939 career victories.

Irad Ortiz Jr., Jose’s older brother and the leading rider at Gulfstream with 105 wins, will ride the Keeneland meet but following the Kentucky Derby he plans to return to New York. Irad Ortiz also will be in New York to ride at Aqueduct on April 27-28.

Junior Alvarado will follow a similar path as Irad Ortiz in that he will ride at Keeneland, then Derby week at Churchill before returning to Aqueduct for the spring/summer season. Alvarado will be in Dubai on March 30 to ride Senor Buscador in the $12 million Dubai World Cup. Alvarado rode that horse to victory in the $20 million Saudi Cup.

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